Gay- and Bible-friendly Level Ground Film Festival in Pasadena to start Thursday

"Matterhorn" is just one film featured at the first Level Ground Film Festival. The film screens Feb. 22 and Feb. 25 at Laemmle Playhouse 7 in Pasadena. (Courtesy of Level Ground)

Two women who hope to transform the seeming dichotomy between religion and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community will kick off their first 10-day film festival on Thursday.

The Level Ground Film Festival will take place at seven venues in Pasadena and will include eight feature films, including “Bridegroom,” “Desire of the Everlasting Hills,” “Born Again” and “The Most Fun I’ve Ever Had With My Pants On.”

“Level Ground has curated a festival experience to bring a different, innovative kind of dialogue to Pasadena,” co-executive director Samantha Curley said. “Through film and art, the festival creates safe space for dialogue about faith, gender and sexuality.”

Founders Curley and Chelsea McInturff work with artists and communities to curate art that tell stories that might foster reconciliation. The festival launches with a black-tie-optional red carpet event at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 and ends with a 7 p.m. closing night gala on March 1.

Former *NSync singer Lance Bass is expected to attend the dinner gala screening of “Kidnapped For Christ” on Feb. 28, Curley said. In January, the film won the Audience Choice Award at Slamdance, a showcase for raw and innovative filmmaking.

Lunch and dinner galas are capped at 40 attendees and include a catered meal as well as dialogue with speakers and filmmakers.

The Level Ground Film Festival features 13 short films, 15 films with cast or crew in attendance, and four workshops. GLAAD, an LGBT equality advocacy group, will also present a workshop entitled “Why Language Matters?”

Pasadena-based Level Ground is named after Isaiah 40:3-5.

“The name embodies a space where we descend from our mountains and climb out of the valleys to meet one another on sacred, though likely uncomfortable, level ground,” according to a press release.